Nitish Katara Murder: Delhi HC Asks Delhi Govt, Katara Family to Respond to Vikas Yadav’s Furlough Plea

The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought responses from the Delhi government and the family of Nitish Katara on a plea by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year sentence without remission for Katara’s 2002 murder, seeking release on furlough.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to the Delhi government, Tihar Jail authorities and the Katara family and directed them to file their status reports before the next hearing on November 27, 2025.

Yadav has challenged the October 29 order of the jail authorities rejecting his request for furlough. He has sought 21 days’ release, stating that he recently got married and wishes to maintain social ties.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Yadav, argued that the rejection was mechanical and without application of mind. He said Yadav meets all conditions under the Delhi Prison Rules and that furlough cannot be denied solely because of the nature of the crime or because he is serving a fixed-term sentence without remission.

The jail authorities opposed the plea on the grounds that Yadav’s conduct in prison has been “unsatisfactory.” They also cited the gravity of the crime, the sentence awarded, and the apprehension of the victim’s family that he may abscond, disturb law and order or cause harm if released.

Yadav, in his petition, said the decision was discriminatory as convicts in graver offences are regularly granted furlough. He pointed out that he was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court for over four months earlier and had not misused the liberty.

In September, the High Court dismissed his plea for an extension of interim bail, saying it was not maintainable. The Supreme Court had earlier granted him interim bail to care for his ailing mother, which he later sought to extend citing his marriage.

Vikas Yadav, son of former Uttar Pradesh politician D. P. Yadav, and his cousin Vishal Yadav were convicted of abducting and murdering 25-year-old Nitish Katara, who was allegedly in a relationship with Yadav’s sister, Bharti. Katara was taken from a wedding in Ghaziabad on the night of February 16–17, 2002 and then killed.

The Delhi High Court upheld their conviction and imposed a 30-year sentence without remission. In 2016, the Supreme Court modified it to 25 years without remission.

Case Title: Vikas Yadav v. The State NCT of Delhi Through Secretary & Ors

Bench: Justice Ravinder Dudeja

Hearing Date: 6 November 2025

Inputs: PTI